Article - by Ian Simpson

Positive Judging & Protocol for Judges

By: Ian Simpson -Judging panel and Standards Director for the MGPS.

Judging is a vital link between the standards of
excellence set for our great breed that reaches the show pen for competition.

Realistically Judges control the destiny of our
activities. Judges, who are consistent, well performed and able to effectively
translate the standard of excellence into the correct decisions in the show pen
to ensure that all breeders and exhibitors strive to improve the standard of
their birds.

PREPARATION.

Having decided to accept a judging appointment, the first
thing to do is to study the show schedule.

1. Study the classes you are going to judge.

2. Make note of any special awards on offer (i.e. feature
breeds).

3. Major awards for the whole show.

4. Note any special rules.

5. Note the time that judging starts and allow enough
time to travel and arrive without rushing.

EQUIPMENT.

A well prepared judge should carry the following
equipment.

1. The MGPS judging protective coat.

2. Pens or pencils to mark the pen number cards when
awarding prizes.

3. Judging stick - I would recommend a fine stick that
would not intimidate the bird when judging.

4. Clothes pegs - this is a method that I use when
judging large classes. It helps you to identify the birds that you previously
handled and liked.

ARRIVAL
AT THE SHOW.

1. Arrive in plenty of time so you are relaxed before
judging.

2. Always carry a copy of the standards with you.

3. Report to the show secretary and meet the other judges
over a cup of coffee.

4. Once the show secretary knows you have arrived leave
the pavilion and go to a neutral area like a lunch room.

COMMENCEMENT
OF JUDGING.

1. Report to the show secretary again once penning time
has expired or wait for his approach.

2. Meet with your stewards and introduce yourself. This
will ensure a good working relationship with your steward/s. It is important to
work as a team.

3. Find out the number of birds you have been engaged to
judge so you can plan your timing. Generally speaking you will be sharper
before lunch compared to after lunch.

4. If you are judging large amount of birds try to finish
a big percentage of them before lunch. Most judges will agree that if the pens
are double decked it becomes tiring after a certain period of time.

USING THE
JUDGING STICK.

I would use the judging stick to balance the bird. Use the
stick delicately and do not poke and prod the bird. Modern games are birds of
"lift" and all their movements are in an upward direction. For this
reason

The judging stick should be used to "lift" the
bird and should never be used to push down the bird. A well-trained modern
should reach if the judging stick is gently placed under the bird’s beak.

CATCHING
THE BIRD FOR EXAMINATION.

This is the most vital part of judging. Exhibitors will
not appreciate any broken feathers as the birds could be shown more than once.
Approach the bird quietly and put your hands over the top of the bird clasping
the wings firmly to the body of the bird. Once you have hold of the bird move
your hand around the bird to rest your palm with the birds legs in between your
fingers. Make sure the bird is relaxed before you examine it.

REMEMBER YOUR
JOB IS NOT TO TRAIN THE EXHIBITORS BIRDS.

Remove the bird from the pen HEAD
FIRST once it has settled. always ask the steward to hold the pen door if
necessary.

THE
DON’T’S OF CATCHING BIRDS.

1. Don't catch the bird by the legs.

2. Don't grab its feather especially the bird's tail.

3. Don't hesitate to show who the boss is. When you
approach the pen.

4. Don't drag the bird by its legs.

Once you have examined the bird place it back into the
pen gently HEAD FIRST and stand it up with your judging stick.

STEWARDS.

A good steward is a vital part of the team. a good
steward will make your job a lot easier. When judging, always maintain your
concentration and try to avoid getting into conversation with the exhibitors.

This is where a good steward will assist you in an
attempt to avoid this form of interruption.

Avoid talking to a steward during the judging of a class
but certainly talk to him between classes.

METHOD OF
JUDGING A CLASS.

Walk along the class to be judged looking for a bird that
grabs your attention. This bird should be active, conforms to standard, healthy
and attracts your attention immediately.

When you walk up and down the class look for any obvious
faults like wrong leg colour, wrong skin colour, duck heel, roach back or
excessive feathering.

If you wish you can now use the peg system to identify
from the outside of the pen the birds that take your eye.

5. Check the birds head for correct skin colour, eye
colour, strength of head, tightness of skin and position of the eye.

6. Examine the bird’s tail gently.

Place the bird back into the pen gently and stand it up
with your judging stick. Once again use your peg system to place your prize
winners once you have examined the class and found the birds closest to the
standards.

Remember the judging system is formulated around points
given for certain features of the breed.

Remember to have an open mind and balance out the
strengths and weaknesses of each fowl. The bird that balances out best overall
must be your winner.

THE
FADIST JUDGE.

Some Judges focus on a particular point of a breed and if
the bird does not meet the judge's criteria for that point then the bird is
discarded completely.

All Judges should have an open mind and judge in
accordance to the weighing of the points system.

It can be very annoying for an exhibitor if the judge
focuses on a particular point if insignificant and puts the bird down.

TALKING
TO EXHIBITORS AFTER JUDGING.

The golden rule here is that in most situations the
exhibitor is showing the best bird/s he has available. Please show respect to
the exhibitor and speak to him about his fowls in a positive manner.

Remember he is only learning and has the right to ask you
questions about his birds and their placing’s. You must be prepared to listen
to his/her points of view, however, be firm with your reasons for making the
awards.

Always refer back to the standards for your reasons.

If other Judges are engaged at the same show do not allow
yourself to get into discussions regarding other judge's decisions. be
supportive of each other’s' decisions.